A sample with a nominal maximum aggregate size of 12.5 mm requires a minimum of 10 kg to run the sieve analysis.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not specified
• D. Only for wash sieve analyses

Answer: (B)

When you do a sieve analysis, you need enough material to get a representative distribution of particle sizes across all the sieves. The amount you need depends on how large the biggest particle is in the sample (the nominal maximum aggregate size). For a nominal maximum size of 12.5 mm, the standard guidance uses a minimum of 5 kg of material to run the dry sieve analysis. Using 10 kg is more than what’s required for this size, so the statement isn’t correct. Sticking to 5 kg provides a practical, representative sample without adding unnecessary workload. If you were performing a washed sieve analysis, you might adjust for losses, but for this case the baseline minimum is 5 kg.